Helicopter firm jobs being lost in Aberdeen

beecher

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/7894163.stm

suddenly mitchaa's boasts about his recession proof job look a bit shakey!!

thriftybabe

OMG it is getting so bad. Think i need to turn off. MSE is starting to be bad for my health!

Old_Slaphead

Oh dear, more employees get the chop (I'll get me coat!)

chucky

beecher wrote: »

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/7894163.stm

suddenly mitchaa's boasts about his recession proof job look a bit shakey!!

you sound happy about someone potentially losing their job - why? :rolleyes:

dopester

beecher wrote: »

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/7894163.stm

suddenly mitchaa's boasts about his recession proof job look a bit shakey!!

Harsh times. Nevermind. Time after time he's confidently predicted walking straight in to a better paid job if he was ever asked to take a demeaning pay-cut, and now it is actual straight-bang job losses in that sector.

I hope he isn't one of the affected - if I recall correctly he has a guaranteed contract with a host of annual pay-rise linked stuff in it - but maybe this will finally wake him up to the seriousness of the situation.

MrDT

How many helicopter firms are there in Aberdeen? Could this be where mitchaa works? I hope not to be honest. I'd hate for any of the regulars here to lose their jobs (cue Generali and PN).

Looks like the safe jobs in Aberdeen are about as safe as those in the now infamous Felixtowe port. I've never felt recession proof, but we're doing well right now. How quickly things change though!

beecher

chucky wrote: »

you sound happy about someone potentially losing their job - why? :rolleyes:

Not at all, merely commenting on the fact that no-one's job is recession proof and that posters such as mitchaa with is 'recession? I've never had it so good?' maybe need to realise the reality of what's going on out there and realise that no-one's contract is guaranteed.

chucky

beecher wrote: »

Not at all, merely commenting on the fact that no-one's job is recession proof and that posters such as mitchaa with is 'recession? I've never had it so good?' maybe need to realise the reality of what's going on out there and realise that no-one's contract is guaranteed.

ok, point taken - it seemed like you're rejoicing in the fact that he could lose or will lose his job.

dopester

chucky wrote: »

you sound happy about someone potentially losing their job - why? :rolleyes:

I'm not happy, and trust Mitchaa won't be one of those losing their jobs - but cmon, mitchaa made out he was totally and utterly safe - and time over all the reasons given for why he'd "made money" on his Aberdeen flat when buying in 2007.

All that justification for why house values in Aberdeen were set right - with 2 income earners each bringing in £40K-£50K a year. Might seem a bit different when one loses their jobs - can't walk straight in to another well-paid job as easily as they'd always made out in post after post - and has an epic mortgage to service.

I've been irritated by many of the cases mitchaa has made - no caution involved at all - and don't mind making that clear - even with a dark cloud now overhead in that sector.

dopester

It seems like it was only a small subsidiary of a larger company - but 60 jobs out of around 80 apparently is quite a hit.

Up to 60 workers face dole as energy industry slump bites
Shock as Aberdeen helicopter jobs axed

By Stephen Christie

Published: 17/02/2009

The north-east division of one of the world’s leading helicopter maintenance firms is to shed up to 60 jobs in response to a decline in work brought on by the global recession, the P&J can reveal.

Bosses at Heli-One spoke to the 80-strong workforce yesterday at the company’s Aberdeen Airport base, where news of the redundancies filtered down to employees.

It is understood just 25 jobs will be secured at the company, which is a subsidiary of Canadian firm CHC Helicopter Corporation, a leading provider of helicopters in the North Sea energy sector.

News of the cuts comes just days after Oil and Gas UK warned that up to 50,000 jobs could be at risk in the energy industry over the next two years because of the credit crisis and global recession.

The redundancies came under criticism last night from a local union representative, who called the move by CHC “questionable”.

Fiona Farmer, of Unite, insisted that there remained a demand for the company’s services in the region and said she would be holding urgent talks with senior management in the coming days.

Last night, an employee affected by the cutbacks contacted the P&J to speak of his shock at the news.

The man, who asked not to be named, said it had come “completely out of the blue”.

“Management called a meeting this afternoon where they announced this,” he said. “As far as we’re concerned, it’s to do with this whole global financial situation facing the country but I thought we wouldn’t really be affected.”

Ms Farmer said: “My understanding is most of the Aberdeen operation will be affected, which is something we have grave concerns about. There is a downturn in activity but not to an extent where this has to happen.

“There is still a demand for the work Heli-One does, so I want to know where the work is going to go. I would be very concerned if it were to go to workers in other countries.

“I find the whole decision very questionable and we will be meeting with management this week.”

The company said it “very much” regretted the decision to lay off workers but claimed this was essential in the face of the economic slowdown.

A spokesman added: “CHC can confirm that its repair and overhaul division, Heli-One, has commenced a consultation process over proposed redundancies at its base maintenance facility in Aberdeen.

“CHC has instigated the process in response to the industry-wide downturn in activity.

“The proposed redundancies, involving between 50 and 60 members of staff, would reduce personnel levels at the base to the level required for forecast future activity.”

Support

The spokesman said 25 people would continue to work for the company in the city to provide logistics and design support.

Heli-One’s premises are at Kirkhill Industrial Estate, Dyce, where facilities include a hangar, blade shop, stores and an administration department.

The company’s website says it employs about 80 people in Aberdeen.

Its global headquarters are in Canada. It has a base in Norway and offices in the US and the Netherlands.

The Press & Journal. 17th February 2009

On the plus side, only yesterday news was saying there is a world-wide skills shortage for experienced/qualified helicopter engineers - if that is Mitchaa's actual role in the sector, and there has to be other companies which will continue to service the helicopter requirements of Aberdeen - where I trust Mitchaa is employed.

Helicopter engineering skills shortage looms
By Jeffrey Decker

While local training solutions will meet local shortages of aviation maintenance technicians, experts say a larger issue is looming - a worldwide slip in appeal for aviation maintenance against careers in high technology.

"I don't know anywhere where there is a surplus of qualified and experienced helicopter engineers or mechanics," says Patrick Corr, chairman of the Helicopter Association International.

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/02/16/322536/helicopter-engineering-skills-shortage-looms.html

stephen163

There's a skills shortage in just about every engineering discipline at the moment. However, if a helicopter maintenance firm can justify paying £50k plus when the market rate for the same type of job in non-oil related industries is around £30k, then your skills shortage will quickly become a skills surplus!